VIN Harrop, the organiser of the town’s heritage trail, believes Basildon is falling behind the likes of Southend and Thurrock in terms of its cultural offering.

While Southend is home to the sites including the Beecroft Art Gallery and the Planetarium, Mr Harrop believes his hometown is lagging behind by comparison.

He said: “On an evening we should not all be heading for the Festival Leisure Park, we should be refreshing, broadening and stimulating our minds in a cultural way.

“We have a theatre that puts on opera, ballet and the occasional play of some artistic merit, but on the whole Basildon is still not the place to widen your cultural horizons.”

Mr Harrop’s belief the town is “no longer particularly interested in culture” looks back at the 1970s, when Basildon Arts Centre was open.

The centre closed in 1988, and Mr Harrop believes its successor, the Towngate Theatre, does not offer the same variety of events, such as opera or ballet.

The exception, he argues, is the Eastgate Art Gallery, which he helped establish at the shopping centre in his role as a member of the Basildon Arts Trust.

Mr Harrop said: “Our world, the Basildon world, requires constant exploration and in the gallery you will find artists striving to achieve this. Our secret is, we cater for all tastes in art.”

Kevin Blake, borough councillor responsible for leisure and the arts, refutes Mr Harrop’s critique of the Basildon cultural scene, and promises exciting developments in future.

He said: “At the moment we are in discussions and correspondence with the art world regarding moving forward and bringing more and more into the borough.

“My door is always open if Vin wants a one-on-one chat about the future.”

While Basildon Council is actively attempting to promote leisure and culture, Mr Blake states the authority is not obliged to do so.

He also warns the demand for cultural offerings may not actually be that high.

He said: “We have got an art shop in the borough already, but at times I have been the only person in there.

“The council was known for its leisure, but no longer runs that because we have outsourced at the Sporting Village.

“We have outsourced that to the private sector, so we are more than happy for people to come forward with their views, but let’s be honest, leisure and the arts are a luxury.

“I have people telling me councils should just cut the grass and collect the rubbish, which I happen to disagree with.

“I am positive about the arts in the area, but if Vin isn’t then I am more than happy to speak to him.”

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